Here We Go Again!

Hello everyone. I know there are lots of people thinking of us and wondering how we made out with my appointment. Yesterday I felt sad, scared and angry so I did what I needed to do to battle those feelings. Today is a new day and I am feeling more positive and determined with the task at hand . The CT scan has shown growth in the cancer since I have not been having any chemo for the past 2 months. The oncologist assured us this is normal and what they expect to see when patients take drug holidays.  Also, the CA 125 has increased very high and this is the test that measures the number of cancer cells. We discussed several options that included continuing on with a drug holiday, starting chemo again , or taking a chemo medication  by mouth that is not as aggressive.
I continue feeling really well and am full of determination to be as well as possible.  In saying that, I  have decided I would like to get started on the most aggressive chemo ASAP.
It sounds like the new chemo regime will be once every 28 days and will do 3 rounds then more scans and CA 125 tests to see if the chemo is doing its job.
Cancer Care Brandon hopes to start chemo for me this Thursday or Friday so I will rest up and be ready to work as hard as I can to KILL off all those bad cells.
Thanks again everyone for your love, support and prayers. With my family and all of you rooting me on, there is only one outcome possible!!!  We will win this fight.... Keeping you in the loop,
Always, Donna xxoo

EVERYDAY IS A GIFT!!!

Hello Everyone!! We got away to Victoria and sure did enjoy the beauty of the countryside. It  was a  short but sweet retreat. Went to the Empress Hotel and wow was that something to see. Sort of felt like I was on the titanic or something ...hahahhaa  Im feeling pretty good..... Cant believe I am getting my energy back and can even walk up the stairs without feeling like I have ran a mile. I am for the most part enjoying each and everyday but do have  a little anxiety in the night as I just hope and pray that the cancer cells are not growing. I have blood work on the 3rd and the CT scan on the 5th and then meet Winnipeg to hear how things are. My family is pretty good. Our son Kyle will be home on the 5th for reading week so that will be so great. Mandy is good and our monkey boys are just about perfect!! Much love  Keeping you in the loop always Donna

Bring on the NEW YEAR!!!

Hello to all our friends and supporters. Happy New Year to all of you. Must be honest and say our entire family is happy to say goodbye to 2014 and excited to welcome a new year with new beginnings.
Our holiday season was great complete with our family all around us. Our two little grandsons were lots of fun and loved  the season and of course Santa found them.
I am enjoying my time away from Chemo and feeling a little stronger, healthier and working on confident. We booked a little getaway for later this month to Victoria and are looking forward to this. I will be returning to the world of medical appointments on Feb 5th for a CT scan then for blood work on the 11th, so hope and pray things will be good. We realize we cannot cure this cancer but we can manage it and in saying that our goal is to keep it at bay for a LONG while. While away from all that Cancer stuff, you can probably find me at the healthy living center,out for coffee or at Winners!!! hahahaha   Wherever it might be, you can bet I will be smiling enjoying the moments.
Keeping you in the loop........much love and thanks Always, Donna

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all. We have been enjoying a wonderful season with our family,friends and our grandchildren. We got a wonderful gift on Friday from our oncologist. They have decided to let me have 1 to 3 months off from chemo and I could decide what I was comfortable with. We decided  we were comfortable with a 2 month drug holiday. Blood work will be done in Feb followed by  another CT scan and then meet late Feb to review results. Therefore, I will work hard at feeling healthy and cleansing my body from all that chemo extra. Kelly and I will look at a getaway in January and enjoy some fun time together. Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support, love and prayers. 2015 is going to be a great year!!!  Keeping you in the loop always, Donna xo

Tis the Season for Miracles!!

Hello everyone. As I write to you all, I have a smile on my face and a tear in my eye and am full of thanks. The CT scan was as good as it could be..... no new tumors and no growth on the existing tumor. So it would seem we are keeping things at bay. I will meet the surgeon/specialist from Winnipeg on Friday and discuss the plan but we are feeling relieved and confident.
Kyle has arrived home for the holidays and it was so great to pick him up from the airport and share such a special hug. Exams are over and the partying has begun. Manda and boys are over lots and those little monkeys love the Christmas carols and are always singing and saying HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS....warms our hearts. Once again, there is lots of singing and dancing going on at our house.
Our home is full of love and happiness and an appreciation for the season. Will keep you all in the loop after our next appointment but in the interim, enjoy the holidays. 
                   Much Love Always, Donna

FULL OF HOPE !!!

Hello everyone. First of all, we loved the concert. Was just a great night and think we knew every word of every song!  Was just what the Dr ordered. Felt good for the soul as we sang our hearts out. Our trip to see Kyle in Kelowna was also great. Him and his roommate Scott were very good hosts to us and took us around to a few wineries and up to Big White. Wow that was a test on my blood pressure. I survived that trip so am thinking I should be good. Some of those turns and cliffs and the gas gauge on EMPTY with no gas station for miles made me just a little uptight. Well don't have to worry about my hair turning grey..hahhahahahaha.....cause I don't have any!
This week I have what might be my last chemo. It will be my 12th round since my second surgery and my 34th round in total. My last chemo I was only able to have half of it as my  kidney function was jeopardized. Hope this time I can  get this last one in me. I will then have my CT on Dec 11th and Winnipeg for results and future plan on the 19th. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let it be good for me and my family and friends so Christmas can be as special as can be. Kyle arrives home on the 14th of Dec and is here till Jan 5th so sure will be great. Mandy and the boys are home for the holidays too so we will be together....best gift of all! Kelly is doing pretty good. Decorated the house for the holidays once again. The kids have nicknamed us the Griswolds!!!Oh well its all good.
Thanks for your love and support and prayers. Keeping you in the loop   Always, Donna xo

Feeling Thankful

Hello Everyone. I must say thanks again for so much love and support. Not sure how our family will   repay all the kindness we have been shown.....makes me so emotional. I had a call from Cancer Care that the CA 125 is back and the number remained exactly the same as it was before the last chemo so this is good news to us. Would seem the cancer has not grown so we will go ahead and have the next 2 rounds of chemo. First one is this Wednesday and then Dec 3 rd. The plan after that will be another CT scan and lets all say one extra prayer that that shows nothing and we can put this journey behind us again for a long while.
Tomorrow Kelly and I will go relive our courtship and listen to some Fleetwood Mac in Winnipeg and maybe make out in the back seat of our car....hahhahahahhaa!! Can just see my kids when they read this post. We are also going to see Kyle soon so need to get the Chemo behind me and feel better quick. Feel excited that we have planned a few fun events. Much love to you all. Keeping you in the loop                 always, Donna